Thank you for expressing your support to stop the proposal for a floating heliport in Sydney harbour.

You and thousands of others gave voice to oppose this ill-conceived idea, and as a result, the application was withdrawn.

But the threat of further inappropriate developments in and around the harbour continues to be a threat.

Join the newly established Friends of Sydney Harbour and have your say.

As an initiative to protect the harbour, a committee including Australian of the Year Ian Kiernan andmyself formed Friends of Sydney Harbour, a not-for profit community group to "preserve the values and amenities of Sydney Harbour through community involvement and action."

Since then I have become a minister in the new Coalition Government and have, with regret, resigned from the Board of FoSH as I believe the directors of FoSH should be independent of Government.

However, FoSH is now ready to take a major initiative with a new website, a new committee and Board, headed by John Molyneux, and including Ian Kiernan and the former mayor of North Sydney, Genia McCaffery.

There is an old saying that history is made by those who turn up, and if you want to ensure that Sydney Harbour is preserved for the amenity of the whole community, then I would encourage you formally to join FoSH and as part of a cohesive community organisation have your say on many harbour related issues including clean beaches, the protection of public space, noise pollution and water safety education.

I wish the new FoSH every success and encourage you to join or volunteer.